ROME — Pope Francis on Wednesday called on the world’s religions to join forces in the fight against fundamentalism and extremism, arguing instead for a focus on “positive values” such as the promotion of peace, care for the poor, and environmental protection.

The pontiff was speaking to a delegation of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists on hand for an event marking the 50th anniversary of a landmark document from the Second Vatican Council on interfaith relations.

“An attitude of suspicion or condemnation of religion has spread due to violence and terrorism,” Pope Francis told the religious leaders.

Given that, he said, it’s necessary to focus on the positive values that religions espouse.

“The world looks at us believers, exhorting us to cooperate with each other and with men and women of good will who don’t profess any religion,” he said, “asking us to provide an answer on many issues.”

Francis’ appeal came during his weekly audience as he celebrated the anniversary ofNostra Aetate(“In Our Time”), a 1,600-word declaration from Vatican II that represented a turning point in relations between the Catholic Church and other religions, particularly Judaism.For more please go here

Join the recently appointed Chairperson Helen Kapalos for the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s first public lecture. Drawing on her own experiences in and out of the media spotlight, Helen brings a fresh perspective to an ongoing narrative about what multiculturalism stands for in contemporary Australia. She invites all Victorians to take part in a public discourse which explores and challenges the modern day definition and currency of the term. In sharing the Commission's new strategic direction, Helen will discuss why now more than ever, it is important for Victorian society to be cohesive and inclusive and why we are all part of the solution.

[ACNS] As representatives from almost 200 countries conclude their
final round of negotiations in Bonn, Germany, this week, ahead of
December’s UN-led international conference on climate change in Paris; a
number of leading Anglicans and Episcopalians have put their name to a
statement calling for an ambitious climate agreement.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Primate of Southern Africa; Presiding Bishop Francisco De Assis Da Silva from the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil (Anglican Church in Brazil); the Rt Revd Juan David Alvarado Melgar and the Most Revd Armando Guerra Soria, Bishops of El Salvador and Guatemala in the Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America (Anglican Church in the Central America region); the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam and the Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishops of Salisbury and Dudley in the Church of England; and Dr Agnes Abuom,
from the Anglican Church of Kenya and moderator of the central
committee of the World Council of Churches, are amongst a number of
Anglicans and 154 religious leaders who signed the statement that was
handed to negotiators this week.

In addition to calling for an ambitious climate agreement, the
statement urges all governments to commit to emission cuts and climate
risk reduction. They also pledge important contributions from their own
faith communities, including divestment from fossil energy.

The statement was handed to the UN’s executive director of the
Framework Convention on Climate Change, Christiana Figueres, on behalf
of the faith leaders by Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel, director of Bread for the World, Germany, and Karin Kortmann, vice president of the Catholic Lay Council of Germany.

“Guided by our religious beliefs, we as faith leaders have come
together to call for an ambitious Paris outcome,” Ms Kortmann said. “In
the past month the UN family has decided to take responsibility for
both, environment and humankind by approving the Agenda 2030.

“In Paris the heads of states and governments have the chance to give
evidence, how serious they are. The survival of millions of human
beings depends on them.”

And Ms Füllkrug-Weitzel said: “We urge governments to commit to
building climate resilience, phasing out fossil energies and reaching
zero emissions by mid-century. We call for a robust mechanism to review
and ratchet up ambitions, transparency and accountability rules
applicable to all, and the provision of finance and support to poor and
vulnerable countries.”

“Such calls mark the engagement of different faith groups working
together towards the same goals,” the ACT Alliance, which organised the
statement, said. “The message from faith groups is now unequivocal.”

Click here to read the full statement and list of signatories on the ACT Alliance website.

The Boroondara Interfaith Network, in partnership with Swinburne Chaplaincy and Swinburne University, invite you to join:What is the Heart of our Humanity? | Community reflection on the history of interfaith and the Parliament of the World’s Religions

The Parliament is the oldest and most inclusive gathering of people of all faith traditions across the globe. At this year’s conference in Salt Lake City, over 10,000 people came together to discuss topics about compassion, peace, justice and sustainability. As part of our reflection, hear about some of the key issues raised at the Parliament and share in a community conversation about the meaning of our humanity here in Boroondara.

The Christus Rex Pilgrimage is a 3 day walk from Ballarat to Bendigo,covering over 90 kilometres. This route takes us from one great cathedral – St. Patricks, Ballarat – to another splendid cathedral – Sacred Heart, Bendigo. Over the 3 days we walk through the picturesque and serene countryside and forests of Victoria, through the towns of Creswick, Smeaton, Newstead and Lockwood. Along the route we engage in prayers and song – rosaries, litanies, hymns and medieval pilgrim songs that unite all in fellowship. Daily Mass in the extraordinary form (1962) is celebrated every day in local churches, except on the Saturday where Solemn Mass is celebrated in the woodlands of Campbelltown at a woodlands site; sacred polyphony and Gregorian chant are a part of each Mass. There are many opportunities for confession and spiritual guidance from the priests who join us on the pilgrimage.

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The passing years have seen the pilgrimage attract Catholics from all over Australia of all ages, bringing them together to walk the route in honour of Christ the King and showing forth the communal body of the Catholic Church. The pilgrimage numbers have increased every year and have reached 450 in the past.

2:30pm - Bus back to Brighton and then Braybrook for participant drop offs

Finish at approximately 3:30pm

Please wear comfortable shoes and modest clothing covering thighs and shoulders. You may be asked to remove your shoes so please wear socks.

This is a no cost community event but registration is essential as there are limited spaces.

All welcome to attend. Donation accepted on the day.

To request your spot on this tour, please email administrator@bcv.org.au with your full name, mobile number, and number of seats you require. Please note there are limited seats and your email is a request for tickets. Our Administrator Bianca will email confirmation of your ticket(s) should you be successful.

For more information about the Buddhist Council of Victoria and other events please visit www.bcv.org.au

Monday, 5 October 2015

Scientology’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard, once defined the religion as
being in service of ‘a civilisation without insanity, without criminals and
without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and
where man is free to rise to greater heights’.

Almost 60 years since its foundation, though, Scientology has become a
uniquely contentious phenomenon – with many questioning its status as a
religion, cult or business, and with a reputation for fiercely defensive,
litigious and coercive reactions to criticism. One of the first to feel the
Church’s wrath was Paulette Cooper – whose 1971 book,The Scandal of Scientology, saw her become the target of an
elaborate plot which set out to destroy her credibility, frame her and land her
with a 15 year prison sentence. Codenamed ‘Miss Lovely’ by Church operatives,
Cooper is now the subject of investigative journalist Tony Ortega’s book,The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.

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Registration is now open for the 2015 Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference to be held at Kingston City Hall (City of Kingston) on Sunday, 22 November 2015. To register for this free event go to vinc.eventbrite.com.au. Please note, places are limited so register early.

On Friday 18 September 2015, the Geelong Interfaith community shared with the City of Greater Geelong prayers for peace and harmony for individuals, each world nation and all life on earth in celebration of International Day of Peace.

On Monday morning, 21 September 2015, over 300 people from the Melbourne community woke up for peace and proactively supported the UN International Day of Peace, along with millions around the world through a significant meditation event held at the heart of the city in Deakin Edge, Federation Square between 7.45am and 8.30am.

On Monday 21 September 2015, COMMON (Centre of Melbourne Multifaith & Others Network) supported by WIN (Womens Interfaith Network) Foundation and Youth For Human Rights gathered at the Church of Scientology, Melbourne to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace. Over 150 attendees from various religious, faith and human rights groups attended the event. The theme for this year’s International Day of Peace was ‘Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for all.’

On Saturday 5 September 2015, the “Lost In Translation” Interfaith Issues Forum was held by the Federation of Indian Origin Multi-Faith Organisation Inc (FIMO) at Walker St Gallery (Theatre) in Dandenong. This forum was an opportunity to contextualize some of the issues that community leaders, service providers, law enforcement bodies and the community at large face with regards to religious beliefs.

On Wednesday 16 September 2105, Yarra Interfaith Network, supported by the City of Yarra, held an event to raise awareness of and reflect on Domestic Violence in our society today at Richmond Town Hall . The event was well attended by many from the local community and interfaith connections from across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

The MELA Interfaith Association is organizing an Interfaith Pilgrimage to India and is seeking expressions of interest from people wishing to participate in this joint journey. The pilgrimage will take place from Saturday 6 February to Friday 19 February 2016, and will consist of a maximum group of fifteen people.

The Guru Granth Sahib Ji is truely unique among the world's great scriptures. It is considered the Supreme Spiritual Authority and Head of the Sikh religion, rather than any living person. It is also the only scripture of it's kind which not only contains the works of it's own religious founders but also writings of people from other faiths.

Victorian Faith Networks Council of Victoria

Compass

2018 PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS

Religions getting together in peace

Interfaith Voivces

From the Dacorum Interfaith Network

An Interfaith Tree of Life

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Joining Ballarat Interfaith Network? Please consider...

B.I.N. welcomes new members from a variety of faiths, belief systems, and spiritualities. Membership for individuals is $10 and for organisations is $50. B.I.N. meets on the 4th Wednesday of every month at the Eastwood Leisure Complex, 20 Eastwood Street, Ballarat at 7pm. B.I.N. members would love to meet you.

The Motto of Ballarat Interfaith Network

What is interfaith dialogue?

Ballarat Interfaith Network has the motto "Conversations not Conversions". Interfaith organisations come from a desire to understand and show respect for those of faiths other than the individual's own faith. These organisations allow friendships and dialogue to develop.
Please go to the following link for more detail: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interfaith_dialogue

Title and Background photograph

The title of the blog comes from a Judith Wright poem. To read the poem please go to the post at http://interfaithinballarat.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/wisdom-and-knowledge-gained-beside-creek.html

The background of this blog was taken from a photograph by Brigid O'Carroll Walsh, the author of this blog. The photograph shows oak trees beside the Yarrowee River. It was taken from Esmond Street on Ballarat's historic Black Hill Reserve. Esmond Street forms part of the Yarrowee Trail as well as the Goldfields Track and is a favourite place for walkers, joggers, bikers, and dogs.